Key West authorities have apprehended a man suspected of discharging a firearm during a violent altercation in a Duval Street parking lot, an incident which resulted in injuries to another individual involved.
The man identified by the police is Jake Ryan Graziano, a 27-year-old resident of Big Coppitt Key. According to the Key West Police Department, Graziano is now facing charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felony battery, and discharging a firearm in public.
The altercation reportedly took place in the rear parking lot of 419 Duval Street, home to several businesses. The victim, accompanied by his girlfriend and her mother, initially encountered Graziano and three other men in the lot. An arrest report indicated that one of the men taunted the victim by telling him to “keep it going.” Feeling disrespected and ‘called out,’ the victim left but soon returned, leading to a confrontation.
During the ensuing dispute, a 24-year-old man allegedly headbutted the victim, who then attempted to defend himself by pulling a knife. Graziano responded by retrieving a firearm from a pickup truck, shooting once into the ground. This action caused the victim to drop his knife and assume he had been shot as blood started running down his face. The victim managed to note the truck’s license plate as the men departed and promptly informed the police.
The truck was traced back to Graziano, who was located along with two of the other men involved. Graziano claimed to have been playing music and drumming on his truck when the victim approached, initiating the confrontation. However, surveillance footage contradicted his claims, showing Graziano’s involvement in the altercation and subsequent retrieval of the gun.
Upon realizing the police had towed his truck and planned to conduct a search, Graziano altered his story, admitting that he hid the gun after the incident. Police later recovered the firearm behind a shed located at a friend’s residence on Truman Avenue, as Graziano’s friend revealed that he was asked to conceal the gun on his property.
The other men mentioned in the incident report remain uncharged as of Wednesday morning. Graziano is currently held in the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office detention facility in Key West without bond, awaiting a court hearing scheduled for the upcoming Tuesday.
This incident highlights an alarming escalation of a confrontation in Key West, culminating in the use of a deadly weapon. The actions of those involved underscore the potential for urban altercations to swiftly turn dangerous when firearms are present. As the legal process unfolds, it is imperative for community safety that such incidents are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
Source: Local10
